Self checkout kiosk and retail security system

ABSTRACT

A self-checkout kiosk enables a patron to purchase product displayed in a vending area and carrying a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag. The customer exits the vending area through a security portal. The kiosk, a bill acceptor, and a computer monitor, either adjacent the portal or separated there from, enables the patron to complete a purchase transaction prior to exiting the vending area through the portal. The portal includes RFID reading antennas for detecting product being transferred through the portal. A security system responds to transfer of product through the portal without a patron completing a purchase transaction using the self-checkout station. The security system itself is also usable in conventional retail environments when an attendant is present.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/488,202, filed Jun. 4, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,328,096, which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/910,436, filed Jun.13, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,191,780, which is a 371 application ofPCT/US2005/047149, filed Dec. 27, 2005, which claims the benefit andpriority of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/669,183, filed Apr.7, 2005.

FIELD

This invention relates to a self checkout kiosk that enables a patron topurchase product without the presence of a checkout attendant. The kioskincorporates a retail security system that can be used separately inconventional retail environments to reduce shrinkage. As used herein,the term “kiosk” means any area in which product is stored and displayedand which includes a self-checkout station permitting a patron tocomplete a purchase transaction and a portal incorporating a securitysystem, and the term “tag” means both tags that are separately appliedto a product as well as tags that are an integral part of the product orare integral with packaging. The self-checkout station may be adjacentto and/or integral with the portal, or may be located within the kioskseparate from the portal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Self checkout point of sale (POS) systems are well known in the art. Oneexample of such a system is found in grocery stores having self checkoutlanes. A POS typically includes a terminal, bar code reader, a computer,and POS software. The patron scans products using a bar code reader. Thecomputer communicates with the patron via the POS software when the barcode reader has been successfully used to read the Universal ProductCode (UPC) and then transmits the UPC information to a host server,which processes the UPC information by comparing it to a database. Thedatabase typically includes information such as number of units instock, price per unit, and any other information which may facilitatethe transaction in addition to the UPC.

Such an automated sales system has obvious limitations including, by wayof example, the lack of security measures working in concert with thesystem. All sales must be monitored by an attendant to insure that thepatron has presented each merchandise item to the bar code scanner. Therequirement for an attendant to monitor the sales limits the number ofsales terminals that may be operated, as it is not cost effective tohave an attendant monitoring such a terminal during periods of low salesvolumes. Accordingly, there is a need for an automated shopping systemwith a security system that avoids the need for an attendant to bepresent to monitor all sales transactions which may take less time toconsummate the transaction. Additionally, in conventional retailenvironments in which one or more attendants are present, enhancedsecurity measures are desirable to reduce product shrinkage.

Recently, inventory control systems using Radio Frequency Identification(RFID) systems have become available for inventory control. Unlike barcode systems, in which the bar code must be directly displayed to thebar code reader, RFID systems use radio waves to read a tag anywherewithin the field generated by the reader, regardless of the orientationof a particular tag.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a self-checkout kiosk for enabling apatron to purchase product displayed in a vending area and carrying aRadio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag. The customer enters andleaves the vending area through a portal which includes a securitysystem. The kiosk includes a self-checkout station including, forexample, a bill acceptor, credit/debit card reader and a computer andcomputer monitor. The self-checkout station may be either adjacent theportal or separated there from, and enables the patron to complete apurchase transaction prior to exiting the vending area through theportal. The portal includes RFID reading antennas for detecting productbeing transferred through the portal. A security system responds totransfer of product through the portal without a patron completing apurchase transaction using the self-checkout means. The portal andsecurity system itself is also usable in conventional retailenvironments when an attendant is present.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a self-checkout kiosk made pursuantto the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a vending area of the kiosk as illustratedin FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the kiosk illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but illustrating another embodimentof the invention;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIGS. 1 and 4, but illustrating stillanother embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating the components of the presentinvention and their interconnections;

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic flow chart of the Point of Sale (POS) softwareused in the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a view in perspective of a self-checkout station used in analternate embodiment of the kiosk illustrated in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a kiosk made according to the presentinvention illustrated generally by the numeral 10. The kiosk 10 isintended for use in institutions where availability of product on atwenty-four hour, seven day a week basis is desired. Typicalapplications include hotels, college dormitories, etc. As shown in FIG.2, the kiosk 10 includes a portal defining the entrance into, or egressfrom, a vending area generally indicated by the numeral 11. Asillustrated, multiple products, each tagged with a Radio FrequencyIdentification (RFID) tag, are displayed for purchase in the vendingarea 11. As illustrated, such products may include soft drinks, snacks,sandwiches, video tapes, and other products. According to the invention,a patron enters the vending area 11 through the portal, selects from oneor more of the products displayed, and then exits through the portalafter completing a self checkout transaction at a self-checkout stationas will be hereinafter explained. As will also be explained, varioussecurity measures inhibit a patron from removing products from thevending area without completing a self checkout transaction, whichincludes payment for the items.

The portal is defined by a pair of facing, substantially parallel sideframe members 12 and 14, which are connected by an upper transverseframe member 16. The frame members 12, 14 and 16 are made of anysuitable material, such as wood or particle board, and are covered by adecorative covering 18 made of any material which allows passage ofradio frequency waves, particularly waves at a frequency of 915 MHZ.Typical materials of the covering 18 include plastic and plywood with alaminate finish. Although only one portal is illustrated, multipleportals may be used to provide entry into and egress from the vendingarea. The side frame member 14 terminates at a counter 20, whichincludes an upper surface or tray 22 upon which product being purchasedmay be placed, as will hereinafter be explained.

The counter 20 provides a locked area for placement of a RFID reader, aDVD recorder, a computer, and a router, all of which will be hereinafterexplicitly identified and explained. A touch screen computer monitor 26is mounted on the side frame member 14 and projects above the tray 22where it is easily accessible to a patron completing a checkouttransaction. A conventional card reading swipe 28 is mounted on the edgeof the monitor 26, which is used to read credit cards and other cardswhich may be used to process a purchase transaction. A conventionalreceipt printer 44 is mounted adjacent the tray and/or monitor forprinting a receipt confirming a purchase transaction. A conventionalbill acceptor 30 available commercially as a ValTech bill acceptor, ismounted on the counter 20 to accept currency to be used in payment forproduct. A conventional microphone and speaker enable a patron tocommunicate with an attendant at a remote location. While the kiosk ofthe invention does not require the presence of an attendant on site, itpermits communication with an attendant at a remote location, who isable to supervise several self checkout kiosks. Together, the counter20, touch screen computer monitor 26, card reading swipe 28, receiptprinter 44 and bill acceptor 30 define a self-checkout station thatpermits a customer to complete a purchase transaction. Although theself-checkout station is illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 1 asbeing integral with the portal, it will be understood that theself-checkout station may be separated from the portal, and may belocated anywhere within the vending area. For example, and referring toFIG. 8, a self-checkout station generally indicated at 200 isillustrated as being mounted on a wall within the vending area 11 and isseparate from the portal (not shown). Although the self-checkout station200 is shown as being mounted on the wall, it could be mounted on acounter, pedestal or similar support within the vending area 11. Theself-checkout station 11 includes the monitor 26, card reading swipe 28,bill acceptor 30, and receipt printer 44, also used in the self-checkoutstation illustrated in FIG. 1 as being integral with the portal.

Conventional security cameras 32, 34 and 36 are mounted on the uprights12, 14 and 16. Security camera 34 is focused on the patron standing nearthe monitor 26, and cameras 32 and 36 are trained on the vending area 11and or the areas adjacent the kiosk 10. The uprights 12, 14 and 16 andthe counter 20 cooperate to define a portal 38 through which a patronmust leave the vending area 11. The cameras 32, 24, and 26 are aimed tophotograph anyone in the vending area 11, and any patron leaving throughthe portal 38. Each of the cameras are connected to a conventional DVDrecorder 40 which may be located within the cabinet 20. A fourth camera(not shown) may be aimed at the monitor. The cameras and DVD recorderare components of a security system available commercially fromEverfocus as Everfocus DVSR-400. A conventional motion sensor, such asphotoelectric motion sensor 42, which projects a photoelectric beamacross the portal 38 and which generates a signal communicated to thecomputer when the beam is broken, is mounted on the kiosk 10 andprojects the beam across the portal 38 to detect movement of a patronthrough the portal 38. Electronic signage (not shown) is mounted on theframe member 16 on the edge thereof facing away from the vending area11. A receipt printer 44, such as is available from Swecoin, is alsomounted adjacent the counter 22. The receipt printer, bill acceptor,card swipe, the DVD component of the security system, and the RFIDreader discussed below are all connected to the computer.

As discussed above, all products available in the vending area 11 bearsRFID tags. The tags may be a 96 bit Lepton chip read many, write onceclass 1 type tag. The tags are read by a reader, which is well known inthe art, such as an Alien Technology Model ALR 9780 indicated at 46(FIG. 6), and operating at 915 MHZ. The RFID reader is stored within thecabinet 20, and is connected via appropriate cables to four circularpolarized 915 MHZ antennas 48,50,52 and 54. Antenna 48 is mounted incounter 20 immediately below the tray 22 with its polarization facingupwards toward the tray. Although only a single RFID reader isillustrated, it will be understood that multiple RFID readers may bedesirable or necessary if the self-checkout station is separate from theportal and located at a distance there from that it is desirable that aseparate RFID reader be used to be used only for the RFID antenna at theself-checkout station and a separate RFID reader be used for theantennas providing security at the portal. Of course, if multipleportals are used, it may be desirable to use RFID readers to accommodateeach portal.

The RFID readers each would be connected to the computer. The antenna 50is mounted in side frame member 14 perpendicular to the antenna 48 andwith its polarization facing into the portal 38. Antennas 48 and 50provide the strongest tag detection when the vended product is placed onthe tray. Antennas 52 and 54 are mounted in the side frame member 12,with approximately even spacing between the antennas 52 and 54, betweenthe antenna 52 and the transverse frame member 16, and between theantenna 54 and the floor. Both antennas 52 and 54 have theirpolarizations facing into the portal 38. Each of the antennas 48-54 areidentical, and each are substantially flat panels with rounded ends andstraight sides between the rounded ends. The circular polarizing resultsin a curtain of radio frequency waves radiating at a 45 degree anglefrom the circular ends. Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 3 the radiofrequency curtains radiated by each of the antennas 48-54 overlap toform a curtain across the entire portal 38, so that any attempt to moveproduct through the portal will result in the RFID tag on the productbeing read.

Referring now to FIG. 7, the RFID reader 46 includes multiple inputports 56, each of which is respectively connected to a corresponding oneof the antennas 48-54, and has additional inputs connected to the output58 of the DVD recorder 40, and to the sensing output 60 of the photo eye42. Reader 46 also has outputs connected, through the appropriaterelays, to an alarm or strobe light 61. An ethernet port connects thereader 46 to a Linksys router, the other ports of which are connected toethernet ports on the DVD recorder 40 and on the personal computer. Therouter 63 includes a port which is connected via a broadband connectionto a remote computer.

Through a voice-over-internet protocol, the remote attendant may talk toa patron using the kiosk 10, but the attendant at a main kiosk can alsohandle several other remote, non-attended kiosks. It is alsocontemplated that a local inventory will be maintained on the computer62, but through the router 63 and the broadband connection the localinventory will be updated by a master inventory at a remote location ormain kiosk for inventory maintenance. The local inventory can also beupdated by the remote computer to update for new inventory, restocking,etc. The computer 62 is also connected to speakers 66 and microphone 68,to provide the aforementioned communication between the patron using thekiosk 10 and the remote attendant, and further includes a driver for thedigital sign and has ports connected to the receipt printer 44 and thebill/coin validator/acceptor 30.

Referring to FIG. 7, a flow chart of the software is disclosed, which isa compilation of the software included within the computer 62 and tagreader 46. Upon the kiosk 10 being available to patrons, the remotecomputer signals computer 62 to initialize the systems components, asindicated at 72. At that time, the computer 62 reads inventory data fromthe main terminal as indicated at 74. The RFID reader or readers arethen activated, as indicated at 76, a test is made at 78 to assure thatthe RFID reader or readers have been connected, upon which the helpbutton, charge up button, and cancel button on the monitor are activatedand the items to purchase display is also activated. At that time atimer is started and a tag is read, as at 80. A test is made at 82 and84, to determine if the beam generated by the photoelectric eye has beenbroken while one or more tags have been sensed, that have not beenmarked in the database as being sold, at which time an alarm is soundedand the inventory database is marked for the theft, as indicted at 86.The DVD recorder is also signaled into an enhanced recording mode, sothat the images from the cameras are recorded at 60 frames per second,instead of the normal five frames per second.

If a theft has not been flagged at 82, and a tag is detected at 88 and90, a test is made to determine if the tag is in the database as at 92so that pricing can be established and the item and price is added tothe array (if not already displayed) on the monitor 26, as indicated at94 and 96. If the tag is the first tag in the array, as determined at98, payment option buttons 100, 102, 104, and 106 are turned on anddisplayed on the monitor, as indicated at 108, along with a voice promptrequesting the patron to select a payment method. The cancel button 110is always displayed, which permits the patron to cancel the transactionat any time, upon which the screen is cleared as indicated at 112. Ifthe patron elects to pay with cash by selecting that option at 100, areceipt is printed as indicated at 114, the item is removed from theinventory record as indicated at 116 and marked as “sold”, and thescreen cleared as indicated at 112, after, of course deposit of asufficient amount of currency in the bill acceptor is confirmed. If thepatron elects to pay by charging the purchase to a hotel room bychoosing 102, the patron is asked to enter the room number on the keypadas indicated at 118, after which the transaction is completed byprinting a receipt, removing the items purchased from the inventoryrecord as being sold, and clearing the screen as discussed above. If thepatron elects to pay by credit card by selecting that option at 104, thepatron is requested to swipe the card as at 120 and the normal cardverification procedures over the broadband connection through the router50 are completed, as indicated at 122. Upon card approval, thetransaction is completed by printing the receipt, removing the item frominventory, and clearing the screen. If the card is not approved, thepatron is so informed on the monitor screen, and the transaction isaborted and the screen cleared.

The patron may also elect to pay by using a charge-up card by choosingthat option at 106. Charge-up cards are particularly useful insituations such as collage dormitories, where repeated purchases areexpected. This option allows the patron to “charge up” a card at onevisit and use credits remaining on the card for subsequent visits. Ifoption 106 is selected, a test is made at 124 to determine if a currentaccount with sufficient credits exists for the card being used. If so,the patron is requested to enter the corresponding PIN number asindicated at 126, which is confirmed at 128. If the PIN number iscorrect, the transaction is completed by printing a receipt, removingthe item from inventory as being sold, and clearing the screen; if thePIN number is incorrect, the patron is requested to re-enter the PINnumber. If an account does not exist, the patron is asked to enter theinformation necessary to establish the account on the keyboard asindicated at 130, and the patron is asked to enter a new desired PINnumber on the keyboard at 132, upon which the account must be chargedup. A new account may be charged up, or the credits on an existingaccount increased, by pushing the “charge up” button on the monitorscreen, as indicated at 134. The patron will then be prompted to depositcurrency to charge up the account and to enter the PIN number at 136(the PIN number may be the same as the PIN number just entered at 132 ifa new account is being established), the account is charged up and abill/receipt formed as indicated at 140, at which time the transactionis completed by clearing the screen.

Although the kiosk 10 has been described as including both aself-checkout station and a portal incorporating security measures, theportal itself may be used in conventional retail environments to controlinventory shrinkage. For example, in traditional retailers havingattended checkout lanes, one or more of the security portals asdescribed herein may be installed where customers, after proceedingthrough the checkout lanes (whether attended or unattended) must passthrough one of the portals before exiting the retailer. When thecustomer proceeds through checkout, each of the products purchased areremoved from the inventory database maintained by the store and marked“sold”. When the RFID reader associated with the antennas mounted on theportal sense transfer of product through the portal that has not beenmarked sold, appropriate security alarms are initiated.

The kiosk described above provides a minimum level of security. If anenhanced level of security is desired, the various display cases withinthe vending area 11, such as the candy display case 142 in FIG. 4, isenclosed and provided with sliding doors 144 equipped with magneticallyreleased locks as at 146. Before product is made available, the patronmust swipe a credit card (or charge-up card) to unlock the doors of thedisplay cases. Accordingly, an indication of the patron's identity canbe retained. If a still greater level of security is desired, doors,such as the transparent doors 148 in FIG. 5, are mounted on the sideframe members 12 and 14 via hinges. The doors close the portal 38, andare mounted on the edges of the side frame members that face into thevending area 11. The doors are latched with magnetically released locks150. Since the doors extend across the inside of the kiosk 10, themonitor 26 and card swipe 28 are outside of the doors and are availableto a patron. In order to unlock the doors and enter into the vendingarea, the patron must swipe a credit card (or a charge-up card) in thecard swipe 28. Accordingly, before the patron even enters the vendingarea, an indication of the patron's identity is retained.

What is claimed is:
 1. An unattended checkout and security systemcomprising: a product; a radio frequency identification (RFID) tagattached to the product; a frame defining a portal there between whereintransfer of the product from a vending area to a non-vending arearequires the product to pass through the portal; a first RFID antennacoupled to the frame to detect the RFID tag passing through the portal;a RFID reader configured to read product data from the RFID tag; aself-checkout apparatus located within the vending area, theself-checkout apparatus including a purchasing mechanism configured toaccept payment for the product after the RFID reader reads the productdata from the RFID tag; a database coupled to the purchasing mechanismand configured to store an inventory of items located within the vendingarea, one of the items including the product, wherein each of the itemshas a different identification code and corresponds to a unique databaserecord within the database, the database further configured to receivethe product data from the RFID reader and update the database record forthe corresponding product by marking the database record for thecorresponding product as sold after payment for the product is acceptedby the purchasing mechanism, the database further configured to updatethe database record for the corresponding product by marking thedatabase record for the corresponding product as stolen when the productmoves through the portal and the database record for the correspondingproduct has not been marked as sold; a video camera directed toward theportal and configured to send video data to a remote location outsidethe vending area; a motion sensing device for sensing movement of apatron through the portal; and a theft warning device configured torespond when the motion sensing device detects the patron move throughthe portal with the product and the database record indicates a lack ofaccepted payment for the product.
 2. The unattended checkout andsecurity system of claim 1, wherein the self-checkout apparatus furtherincludes: a monitor; and a processor coupled to the monitor forassisting a patron in completing a purchase transaction.
 3. Theunattended checkout and security system of claim 1, further comprising asecond RFID antenna coupled to the frame.
 4. The unattended checkout andsecurity system of claim 1, further comprising: a counter coupled to theframe and defining an upper surface; and a second RFID antenna mountedbelow the upper surface and configured to project radio frequency wavesthrough the upper surface to read the RFID tag on the product when theproduct is moved across the upper surface.
 5. The unattended checkoutand security system of claim 1, further comprising a second RFID antennacoupled to the frame and wherein the first and second RFID antennas aredirected to project radio frequency waves across the portal in multipledirections.
 6. The unattended checkout and security system of claim 5,wherein the frame includes a first side frame member and a second sideframe member extending parallel to one another, the first side framemember terminating at a counter and including the first RFID antennadirected towards the second side frame member, the second side framemember including a third RFID antenna and a fourth RFID antenna directedtowards the first side frame member, and wherein the first, third andfourth RFID antennas are configured to project overlapping radiofrequency waves across the portal.
 7. The unattended checkout andsecurity system of claim 5, wherein the first and second RFID antennasare offset from each other and are configured to project overlappingradio waves across the portal.
 8. The unattended checkout and securitysystem of claim 5, further comprising: a counter coupled to the frameand defining an upper surface; and a third RFID antenna mounted belowthe upper surface and configured to project radio frequency wavesthrough the upper surface to read the RFID tag on the product movedacross the upper surface, wherein the first and second RFID antennas aremounted on opposite sides of the portal and are configured to projectoverlapping radio waves across the portal.
 9. An unattended checkout andsecurity system comprising: a frame defining a portal there between fora product with a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag attachedthereto to be passed through when the product is passed from a vendingarea to a non-vending area; a first RFID antenna coupled to the frame todetect the RFID tag passing through the portal; a RFID reader configuredto read product data from the RFID tag; a self-checkout apparatusconfigured to be located within the vending area, the self-checkoutapparatus including a purchasing mechanism configured to accept paymentfor the product after the RFID reader reads the product data from theRFID tag; a database coupled to the purchasing mechanism and configuredto store an inventory of items located within the vending area, one ofthe items including the product, wherein each of the items has adifferent identification code and corresponds to a unique databaserecord within the database, the database further configured to receivethe product data from the RFID reader and update the database record forthe corresponding product by marking the database record for thecorresponding product as sold after payment for the product is acceptedby the purchasing mechanism, the database further configured to updatethe database record for the corresponding product by marking thedatabase record for the corresponding product as stolen when the productmoves through the portal and the database record for the correspondingproduct has not been marked as sold; a motion sensing device for sensingmovement of a patron through the portal; and a theft warning deviceconfigured to respond when the motion sensing device detects the patronmove through the portal with the product and the database recordindicates a lack of accepted payment for the product.
 10. The unattendedcheckout and security system of claim 9, wherein the self-checkoutapparatus further includes: a monitor; and a processor coupled to themonitor for assisting a patron in completing a purchase transaction. 11.The unattended checkout and security system of claim 9, furthercomprising a second RFID antenna coupled to the frame.
 12. Theunattended checkout and security system of claim 9, further comprising:a counter coupled to the frame and defining an upper surface; and asecond RFID antenna mounted below the upper surface and configured toproject radio frequency waves through the upper surface to read the RFIDtag on the product when the product is moved across the upper surface.13. The unattended checkout and security system of claim 9, furthercomprising a second RFID antenna coupled to the frame and wherein thefirst and second RFID antennas are directed to project radio frequencywaves across the portal in multiple directions.
 14. The unattendedcheckout and security system of claim 13, wherein the frame includes afirst side frame member and a second side frame member extendingparallel to one another, the first side frame member terminating at acounter and including the first RFID antenna directed towards the secondside frame member, the second side frame member including a third RFIDantenna and a fourth RFID antenna directed towards the first side framemember, and wherein the first, third and fourth RFID antennas areconfigured to project overlapping radio frequency waves across theportal.
 15. The unattended checkout and security system of claim 11,wherein the first and second RFID antennas are offset from each otherand are configured to project overlapping radio waves across the portal.16. The unattended checkout and security system of claim 11, furthercomprising: a counter coupled to the frame and defining an uppersurface; and a third RFID antenna mounted below the upper surface andconfigured to project radio frequency waves through the upper surface toread the RFID tag on the product moved across the upper surface, whereinthe first and second RFID antennas are mounted on opposite sides of theportal and are configured to project overlapping radio waves across theportal.
 17. An unattended checkout and security system comprising: aframe defining a portal there between for a product with a radiofrequency identification (RFID) tag attached thereto to be passedthrough when the product is passed from a vending area to a non-vendingarea; an RFID antenna configured to detect the RFID tag passing throughthe portal; a RFID reader configured to read product data from the RFIDtag; a self-checkout apparatus configured to be located within thevending area, the self-checkout apparatus including a purchasingmechanism configured to accept payment for the product after the RFIDreader reads the product data from the RFID tag; a database configuredto store an inventory of items located within the vending area, one ofthe items including the product, wherein each of the items correspondsto a database record within the database, the database furtherconfigured to receive the product data from the RFID reader and updatethe database record for the corresponding product by marking thedatabase record for the corresponding product as sold after payment forthe product is accepted by the purchasing mechanism, the databasefurther configured to update the database record for the correspondingproduct by marking the database record for the corresponding product asstolen when the product moves through the portal and the database recordfor the corresponding product has not been marked as sold; and a theftwarning device configured to respond when the RFID antenna detects theRFID tag passing through the portal and the database record indicates alack of accepted payment for the product.
 18. The unattended checkoutand security system of claim 17, further comprising a motion sensingdevice for sensing movement of a patron through the portal.
 19. Theunattended checkout and security system of claim 17, wherein thedatabase is located remote from the self-checkout apparatus.
 20. Theunattended checkout and security system of claim 17, wherein the RFIDantenna is coupled to the frame.